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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

Today’s Reflection

THE LAST SUPPER is a meal in the midst of conflict where Jesus names the conflicts in the room, and then gives bread, the gift of forgiveness, not a stone, or retribution, or punishment. In remembering this living reality, we are called to re-member or re-frame our world and our own actions so that we do likewise.

—Thomas W. Porter
“The Last Supper: Naming the Conflicts and Giving Bread and Wine,” Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table

From page 18 of Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table edited by Thomas Porter. Copyright © 2006 by Discipleship Resources, an imprint of Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

When have you experienced the gift of bread or forgiveness in the midst of conflict?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. —Colossians 3:13, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

God of forgiveness, help me forgive. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something more

A special invitation to the Daily Reflections family: Upper Room Books is offering a 15% discount on books purchased from The Upper Room Bookstore during the month of April. Use promo code APRIL15 when you make your purchase at bookstore.upperroom.org. Offer excludes packages and non-discountable items.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

14 Comments

  • Jill Posted April 9, 2019 5:26 am

    My dad has such a tender heart of love, he is quick to offer forgiveness, at a level I cannot understand. How he emulates Christ.
    My mother’s struggle has finally ceased, as she passed late Sunday evening. Her final three days were extremely intense and her body finally succumbed.
    The calling hours and funeral will be Thursday. I treasure your continued prayers for my family as we grieve, remember, celebrate mom’s life and comfort each other.

    • L Posted April 9, 2019 6:20 am

      Good morning Jill! I love you and your family. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” May the Lord continue to hold you and your family so close together, whereas one can’t fall from the other.

    • Jim Ligon Posted April 9, 2019 6:20 am

      Jill, please accept our condolences. Prayers for you and your family that you will feel the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit in the days ahead. You are loved.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 9, 2019 6:21 am

      Jill, our deepest condolences to you and your family!

      Blessings!

    • Lou Posted April 9, 2019 6:42 am

      Prayers of strength, peace and comfort for you and your family Jill.

    • Betsy Posted April 9, 2019 6:50 am

      We mourn with you, Jill, in the loss of your mother. She has passed on to the other side and has left all suffering behind. Prayers for you all in the coming days.

    • Connie Posted April 9, 2019 8:49 am

      Oh Jill, I’m so sorry to hear the sad news. Prayers for you and your family as you grieve this terrible loss. May your Mother rest in Eternal Light and Peace and may God send His Comforter to you and yours.

    • Andrea Posted April 9, 2019 9:51 am

      Jill, my heart and prayers are with you, your dad, and your sister. Your mother was so blessed to have you three caring for her.

  • robert moeller Posted April 9, 2019 6:34 am

    On Sunday during worship there was a Wesleyan Covenant service before Communion. In the service we went to other non-related members and said,
    ” God loves you, I love you, Christ forgives you, I forgive you, you are forgiven. Amen.” This was a new service for me even though the pastor told us this is a very old Methodist service. Doing it before Communion made it even more meaningful and compares to what Christ did at the Last Supper.

    Thankful to be able to post again, yesterday I could read the reflection, but not post. I went to the day before and posted there.

    Progress is being made on the condo purchase. Have an inspection on Thursday. Thankful for your prayers for a God’s guidance in finding a new home. Put God first and all these things will be given to you.

    Prayers for Gloria at her passing and for Larry, Becky, and Jill as they mourn.
    God’s peace and comfort be with you.

    Prayers for Marcy, Rusty, Julie, and Andrea and Lowell that healing and recovery are progressing.

    God is with us all, every day, thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted April 9, 2019 8:26 am

    Jill, I am so very sorry for your loss. May your mother finally know God’s peace. May your father gain strength from you and your sister. May you be supported by your family and by God.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich as their plans to move progress. May God use Robert in his new home to further His kingdom on earth.
    Prayers for Mary as she cres for her mum. May her mum’s health improve and may she be out of the hospital soon.
    Prayers for Marcy, may her health be improving.
    Prayers for Andrea, may her leg be healing.
    Prayers for Connie, may her health and mobiltity continue to improve.
    Pryers for Lou and her daughter, may they seek God as they plan their futures.
    Prayers for April, Edy and Bill, Betsy, and Rusty.
    Prayers and blessings and warm hugs dear UR family.
    I have reason to believe h may be having an affair. Contacted the lawyer who said this is good, it could mean more alimony for me. I know he spoke with another lawyer yesterday. Thank you for your prayers.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 9, 2019 8:44 am

      Thanks Julie!

      Amen to your prayers!

      May all be well with you!

      Blessings!

  • Connie Posted April 9, 2019 8:52 am

    “Beyond the Sunset, oh blissful morning”

  • Andrea Posted April 9, 2019 11:26 am

    I feel so blessed to be in your prayers. Thank you. My leg is getting stronger. Lowell and I are enjoying light moments together. With limited activity, I am more tired than usual but I try to get outside each day for a hobble on my crutches, for the fresh air and, hopefully, an energy boost.

    Forgiveness among friends when we unwittingly hurt one another – is the thing that first comes to my mind in this reflection. And in marriage – forgiveness is so sweet when followed by renewed closeness.

    Prayers for dear longtime UR friends as well as the new people who have commented recently. Jill, Robert, Julie, Connie, Lou, Mary, Betsy, Marcy, April, Edy, Rusty, and any names I have overlooked, and all those for whom you pray. I ask for your prayers for Jane who now is hospitalized and getting IV antibiotics for spiking fevers, while shes also undergoes chemo for cancer. Please pray too for her spirit, which she admits is low.

  • Jennifer Posted April 10, 2019 2:05 am

    I am a youth director and have a team of counselors that volunteer for the youth. I have been there for 12 years and one particular volunteer has been there even longer than me. He is much older and is almost an exact reflection of my dad whom talks to me as though I am still a child. When he talks to me or in general discussion, it hits a chord in me that just makes me angry. Usually I am able to control it and not show my frustration. However, there are days that I wear my feelings on my sleeve and he has in the past noticed, I have even explained to him why I sometimes have the reaction I do. I do genuinely love him and hate that I have that type of reaction with him. That being said, regardless, he and his family have been an incredible example of what agape love looks like. Two years ago, I had a major abdominal surgery, and then this past October I became very sick with pneumonia and then again in January of this year, I had rotator cuff surgery. All three times his wife has made a HUGE pot of chicken noodle soup and delivered it to my house for me and my family. Each time he does this, I am reminded how unworthy I am of his generosity and cannot comprehend why he would be so thoughtful except for understanding his undeniable ability to show the agape kind of love in all circumstances. Colossians 3:13 is alive and in action in this man and his family and I am extremely blessed to have such an amazing church family that even when I’m at my worst, they love me and forgive me anyways!

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